Electrical fault in...
 

[Closed] Electrical fault in brand new car- 6 days on and they still can't find it

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Had my new Ford for 10 days and last week it decided not to start.

To cut a long story short there is 'something' causing a significant drain on the battery but despite 6 days of diagnostics the dealer can't find the cause.

Its all under warranty so not out of pocket but can anyone tell how it can take this long?


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:33 pm
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If you're able to, don't use it and leave it there, worse case scenario you've bought a lemon and the longer you use it the weaker you're argument becomes.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:39 pm
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threaten that you want your money back which you are entitled to according to the consumer goods act. There is a good example of this on watchdog.

leave the car with them and get a curtesy car. if they dont fix it in a week then they need to get you a refund. It will be an effort but your are fully legally entitled.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:46 pm
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I had this a few years ago with a brand new Saab, it went through 3 batteries, it was am electrical fault that kept operating the central locking constantly. In the end they sent an "expert" from Sweden and it was a fault in the wiring loom that took ages to find. I kept saying take the car back and give me a new one but they were having none of it. Once sorted it was fine


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:50 pm
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How long is a piece of string? Seriously though I am a VW tech and these things can be quite drawn out, especially if its a new model. Best thing to do is ensure you ring daily for an update, get onto Ford UK customer services and push them for Ford technical support help. I also find it helps for the customer to talk to the technician working on the car..


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:50 pm
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Out of interest, could you tell me the model, engine and gearbox pls?


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:52 pm
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leave the car with them and get a curtesy car. if they dont fix it in a week then they need to get you a refund. It will be an effort but your are fully legally entitled.

This.

Fully legally entitled. And they know it too.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:52 pm
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I think you are in reject it territory. So long as you have given them a little bit of time to fix it time to start the process of getting rid. Is it on HP or similar if so get finance company to help? Big ones can have some clout with dealers and they may be jointly liable with the dealaer to.resolve.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 9:58 pm
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Oh by the way when I had this same issue with my 05 golf it was a knackered ECU and (can?) bus.

Was with VW for about a week at just over a year old. A day to diagnose, a day or so to get parts and misleading fitting info from head office and two attempts to fit it, the second with right info!

Car was good as gold for remaining two years of lease.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 10:03 pm
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Fully legally entitled

Now that is a heady phrase, like fully insured or the favourite of the dodgy driveway people - fully guaranteed. In reality there is no such thing as fully.

Forget watchdog, do you know anyone who ever got a car company to completely replace a new vehicle after delivery? I know a few who tried, and failed.

Unfortunately you have to make the most god awful fuss on a daily basis and stop being understanding about it.


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 10:04 pm
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Porter_jamie- focus titanium x estate, 1.6 tdci Eco motion, 6 speed manual.

They tell me technical have been involved but have found anything as yet.

It's a company car so no HP/financial burden to me but that's not the point, surely they run an electrical test before it leaves the factory?


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 10:09 pm
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sorry to hear about your car, i work at a ford main dealer and often we get jobs that are not simple and do drag on for days before we get any progress, the car may have been there for 6 days but no way has it been worked for that amount of time, 8 hours a day. always get pulled off jobs and onto others and jobs get put to one side for abit, since the car is new i wouldnt say it going to be a simple fault. get onto ford customer services, explain how you have only just got this car, prob the second most expencive thing a person could buy its been in the dealer for as long as you have owned it, do this for a few days and they should send a field tech out to the dealer to assist in the diag

good luck


 
Posted : 22/06/2012 11:39 pm
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Forget watchdog, do you know anyone who ever got a car company to completely replace a new vehicle after delivery?

Me.

I had it a week and it was not what I had specifically asked for. Rejected. New car supplied.

It wasn't hard, I just knew my rights and stuck to them.


 
Posted : 23/06/2012 6:27 am
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Forget watchdog, do you know anyone who ever got a car company to completely replace a new vehicle after delivery? I know a few who tried, and failed.

Me.

For a similar reason to the OP, electrical drain somewhere that they couldn't find (without the car for over 3 weeks)

Wasn't replaced though. I was refunded as I didn't want to give the dealership my trade after the way they dealt with it.

If you know a few who tried and failed. They clearly didn't try hard enough.


 
Posted : 23/06/2012 6:44 am
 br
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Company car - just inform your admin guy, end of effort


 
Posted : 23/06/2012 8:54 am
 Pook
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same here on a focus. the fuses kept blowing.g on the 12v circuit. How did Ford fix it? replaced the 4A fuse with a 24A.

get shut and get a new one - preferably a vw.


 
Posted : 23/06/2012 9:00 am